Rosamilia vows action if Tedesco continues to speak on public safety post

Updated 7:58 pm, Thursday, December 6, 2012

TROY — Mayor Lou Rosamilia told Police Chief John Tedesco to curtail his comments on the newly created public safety commissioner post or face future disciplinary action, several city government officials said.

Tedesco has been outspoken regarding the new position, which is viewed by Democrats and Republicans as a move aimed at the chief's leadership of the police department.

When reached at the police station Thursday, Tedesco declined to comment on a letter Rosamilia sent to him about the matter.

Michael Fraser, a spokesman for the mayor's office, would not comment regarding specifics about the exchange between the mayor and chief.

"The mayor and Chief Tedesco are in regular communication on public safety matters," he said in a written statement.

"It is the city's policy not to comment on internal discussions or communications. Any suggestion that there has been disciplinary action taken is untrue," Fraser continued.

According to officials who spoke about the letter on the condition of anonymity, Tedesco was warned to stop speaking out about his displeasure with the commissioner's post, which was funded in the 2013 city budget.

After Rosamilia was elected last year, his transition team recommended naming a commissioner specifically to take charge of police operations. Democrats on the City Council were disappointed that Rosamilia, a Democrat, did not implement the transition team's recommendation at the time.

The council Democrats added $30,000 to the 2013 budget to fund the new position. Democratic insiders have said retired Deputy Police Chief Anthony Magnetto is a front-runner for the job.

Tedesco, a Republican promoted to chief by fellow Republican Mayor Harry Tutunjian, said Rosamilia's move was political. Tedesco became chief with a mandate to reduce police overtime, which led to confrontations with the Troy Police Benevolent Association and a lawsuit when overtime was not immediately paid in several instances.

During the 2011 mayoral election, the Troy PBA backed Rosamilia in his race against Republican Carmella Mantello. Tutunjian could not run because of term limits.

Tedesco has clashed several times with Councilwoman Nina Nichols, a Democrat who chairs the council's Public Safety Committee. The confrontations further strengthened council members' resolve that a commissioner be named.

Nichols said, "I am hopeful that as the mayor moves forward with the commissioner that some of the tensions within the police department will be reduced and eased."